The Major Components of Your A/C System
As discussed in previous blogs in this series, having a well-functioning air conditioning (A/C) system is essential in Ohio.
As a homeowner in our hot and humid summer climate — home comfort isn’t merely a luxury. It is a necessity.
Because of this, understanding the major components of your A/C system is also important. It can give you peace of mind and empower you with better troubleshooting skills should a problem ever arise! This knowledge and understanding can also enable better communication with our HVAC professionals should the need for service arise, and it has the potential to make life easier for you as a homeowner.
In the following, your friends at Five Star Home Services will explain all the major parts of an air conditioning system.
So, without further ado, we move on to the “heart of the matter.”
Introduction to Your A/C System
Centralized air conditioning systems are more than just a box that hums in the background during the hot and humid summer months. They’re also a complex system comprising several key components—each of which plays an essential role in ensuring your home stays comfortable and cool. Let’s dive into these major components and explain how they work together seamlessly to keep your home nice, crisp, and cool!
The Condenser
Their Location: Condensers are usually located outside the home.
Their Function: Condenser units release the heat absorbed from inside your home into the outdoor air. They include several additional parts, including the condenser coil, a fan, and various electrical components.
How They Work: Refrigerant gases enter the condenser coil, cooled down by the fan blowing air over the coil. As the refrigerant loses heat, it condenses into a high-pressure liquid. This later gets cycled back into the system.
The Evaporator Coil
Location: Evaporator coils are housed inside your home’s air handler or attached to the furnace.
Their Function: Evaporator coils work by absorbing the heat from the air inside your home, and cooling it down, before circulating it back into your living spaces.
How They Work: Their high-pressure liquid refrigerants enter the evaporator coil where they undergo a phase change and become a more low-pressure gas. During this process, they absorb the heat and moisture from the air passing over the coil. This cools the home while removing excess humidity.
The Compressor
Location: Compressors are found in the outdoor unit alongside the condenser.
Their Function: Compressors are like the “heart of the A/C system.” They pump the refrigerant through the system and maintain the needed pressure levels for efficient heat exchange. They are one of the most expensive parts to replace. They are expensive for two major reasons. Because they circulate the refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser coils, they are highly complex pieces of equipment with intricate details.
How They Work: Compressors take the low-pressure gas from the evaporator coil and compresses it into a high-pressure, high-temperature gas. This gas is then able to flow into the condenser coil, where the cycle starts all over again.
Air Handlers
Location: Air handlers are usually located in an attic, basement, or utility closet.
Their Function: Air handlers are responsible for circulating conditioned air throughout your home. They contain the blower fan, air filter, and sometimes the evaporator coil.
How They Works: Blower fans pull warm air from your home, passes it over the evaporator coil to cool it, before pushing the cooled air through the ductwork and back into your living spaces. Air filters remove debris and dust from the air before it gets recirculated. They help to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
Now to Tie It All Together
Now that we’ve covered the basic parts, let’s tie it all together. At Five Star Home Services, understanding how these components work and interact can give you a comprehensive view of your A/C system’s operation. Below we outline a six step simplified sequence of how everything works together:
- Warm air from your home is drawn into the air handler.
- The air filter cleans the air that passes through it.
- Your evaporator coil cools and dehumidifies the air using AC refrigerant.
- The system’s blower fan then circulates the cooled air back into your home or building.
- Compressors pump the refrigerant through the system, maintaining pressure.
- The condenser unit then releases the absorbed heat into the outdoor air to complete the cycle.
Why Does Understanding Your A/C System Matter?
In short, we believe knowledge is power. Having a basic familiarity of your A/C system’s major parts and components can be incredibly beneficial. The following are merely a few ways:
- Preventative Maintenance: When you understand how your system works, it will help you notice early signs of wear and tear. This enables more timely maintenance to prevent larger issues.
- Improved Troubleshooting: Recognizing which part may be causing issues helps narrow down potential problems and improve troubleshooting.
- Better Communication: Having this knowledge and being able to describe the symptoms you’re dealing with fosters better communication with HVAC professionals, which allows for quicker and more accurate repairs.
In short, grasping the fundamentals of central air conditioning systems ensures their efficient operation, prolongs the equipment’s lifespan, and ultimately saves you time and money.
In Conclusion
Your A/C system is an essential part of keeping your Ohio home comfortable throughout the warmer months. By understanding all these major components — from your condenser, evaporator coil, and compressor to your air handler — you have deeper insight into your system’s operation. This knowledge, in turn, will equip you with better troubleshooting skills and communication with service professionals, ensuring your A/C unit remains in top-notch condition for years to come!
At Five Star Home Services, we want to see our amazing customers stay cool! Stay cool, Ohio! And remember, if you ever need expert advice or service, don’t hesitate to contact our team of local, trusted HVAC professionals. We are always standing by in your area!
You can also learn more about our services or get an instant online estimate. Additionally, you can always reach a friendly live person directly at (833) 405-8009.
Stay tuned for the next part of our series, where we’ll look at keeping it all together and running smoothly.
Part four of our five-part series is titled: “Keeping Cool, Keeping Safe, Saving Money — A/C Maintenance Tips for Homeowners.”